Portman Wins Ohio Senate Race

With 0% of the vote counted – yes, z-e-r-o – the Associated Press called the Ohio Senate race for Republican Rob Portman.

Mr. Portman, whose resume of service in Congress and both Bush administrations stood out in such an anti-establishment year, took the lead early and cruised to victory in the Buckeye State, a presidential swing state. That marks a hazardous turn for President Barack Obama as he turns to his re-election bid in 2012.

Mr. Portman, a former House member from Cincinnati who served as U.S. Trade Representative and budget director under former President George W. Bush, was declared the winner over the state’s Democratic Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher.

This race got away from Democrats early, as the party turned its attention to the re-election of Gov. Ted Strickland, who’s fighting for second term.

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